Claunesha Williams

English 116/118
Heidi Goen-Salter
October 31, 2014
Immigration: Agree to Disagree
We as Americans were not the first people to settle into this place we call the United
States of America. We may have given our home its name; we may have built up the successful
system that we take pride in today, but we did not find, nor did we create our beloved land of
the free. So how is that we so-called Americans forever wish to believe that our nation is the
land of opportunity, yet we have this xenophobia of foreign-born individuals only migrating into
our country just to make life harder for us? We have become comfortable with how our country
operates with no intention of making adjustments, afraid that if any turn in direction were to
occur, our ways of life could be jeopardized. The problem is not that foreigners or immigrants
come to harm us, but simply that we (a selfish breed of human beings) are incapable of genuinely
welcoming new comers that speak different languages and act non-American into our place of
residence. Immigration can hurt American population in some cases, but ultimately, it benefits
the economy and encourages cultural variety.
Population in general is a very touchy subject: too little may drag and shorten our
economy and too much might cause a riot. In this case, we are being hit with an overflow of
immigrants everywhere. There may be, in some areas, beliefs that the increase in immigration
helps our country stay youthful and that it can generate jobs that need doing. It can be true that
immigrants are more willing to do the work that most native-born Americans would rather not
do. But this isnt entirely true. According to the article, Poor Immigrants use Public Benefits at

a Lower Rate by Leighton Ku and Brian Bruen, About 40 million immigrants reside in the
United States43.8% are naturalized citizens and 56.3% are non-citizens- including
undocumented immigrants (1). Not only are they immigrating, but they are bringing more than
just themselves. These people have families filled with babies who need caring and children who
need to be school. Because of government trying to aid all of these people fairly, our resources
will then be shortened. In the article, Coming to America, by Adam Davidson, Similarly
skilled native-born workers are faced with a choice of either accepting lower pay or not working
in the field at all (1). Because we are the land of opportunity, everyone in our country has to
be given that choice. As a consequence, native-born citizens have to pay the price of taking lower
pay just so we can make room for everyone. But too many immigrants are crossing over at one
time. They dont even travel deep into the country. After immigrants cross our borders, they stop
running and settle where they are. When we have all of these foreigners piling into the nearest
states, concerns-- of where to put them, how many need to be in school, how are we going to
feed them, who needs a job, where are we, the Americans, going to the extra money to support
them-- will arise massively.
It can be understandable that immigrants seem to put a slight strain on the American
economy. Some native born citizens may feel that these foreigners only come to our country to
take jobs that are meant for us, or to just do nothing at all while collecting and/or receiving
benefits like health care, welfare and other resources. But in reality, do we see illegal immigrants
working in corporate offices, driving expensive cars, and living in luxurious homes? No we
dont. We see them holding jobs in labor work or manufacture companies, performing domestic
work, or behind a window handing us our food that we ordered from a fast food restaurant.

These assumptions of immigrants taking native-born jobs are nothing more than over
exaggerated myths. Kevin McGuire, author of Immigration and the Effects on Social Services,
says that Even those who favor restricting immigration agree that immigrants come to this
country to work (18). Immigrants arent taking anything from us native born citizens. They are
simply willing to do work that we, lazy Americans, choose not to do. According to Immigration
Benefits America by Steven J. Gold, Immigrants and refugees are often willing to live in small
towns and accept unglamorous but essential jobs in agriculture and other industries (110). While
we have the choice to pursue that American dream so easily, immigrants on the other hand, are
taking what they can get to have a better life than the one they ran away from. Besides, these
jobs that they apparently take from us are actually contributing to a larger pie that we all benefit
from (McGuire 19). Immigrants outsider skills is what gets them jobs, and increases our
productivity. Their linguistics and technical skills allow American companies to sell goods and
services abroad. In other words, these foreigners are helping our global market, they are keeping
our economy functioning, and making money! Thus, the expansion of cultural variety increases,
and makes our America a better America.
Now there can be, in some areas, situations where immigrants dont want anything to do
with the United States (socially that is). They come to our country on one mission: to work, save
up, and go back home. Even if they choose to stay and build a life in America, some immigrants
would rather create a nation within the nation, refusing to adapt. To this day, we have a
Chinatown, Little Italy, Spanish Harlem, and so much more. On the other hand, the
majority of these immigrants that come into our country, come in willingly. They want to become
American citizens, they want the chance at that American dream, and they want to be free!
According to the article Keep the Borders Open, the author states Many migrants return home

with new skills, savings, technology, and bright ideas (1). Native-born citizens unknowingly
exchange their skills with the immigrants. We have the ability to teach them how to be like us.
Its about helping each other out, not just economically, but culturally as well. If you think about
it, immigrants are already 50% American when they cross that border. These people, despite their
living circumstances, begin doing the same things that we, native born citizens, already do.
even undocumented immigrants pay taxes such as sales tax on purchases, property tax with rent,
and pay roll taxes (McGuire19). We all get taxed the same, there is no special treatment.
They are also willing to fight for our country. How courageous is that? Individuals that werent
even born in our country are willing to die for our country.
The United States of America has an abundance of diversity. There may have been
concerns that such racial, ethnical, and religious differences can result in violence, but
If we sat down today and made a T-chart of the positive and negative effects of
immigration, most likely those positives will outweigh the negatives. Native-born citizens may at
times become frustrated with the overcrowding of immigrants because they make it difficult to
find jobs, theres fear of overpopulation, or the Americans just dont want them here. But what
makes immigrants beneficial is all of the types of work they are willing to do in order to have a
successful life. Indeed, advanced economies compete vigorously for outsiders skills (Keep the
Borders Open 1). Our economy loves the features that these immigrants bring over to our nation.
I do think we can all agree that the influx of newcomershas helped make America one of
historys great success stories (McGuire 18). America itself cant do it alone, and its citizens,
lazy and selfish, should be glad that we have these foreigners willing to step in. They
get to pursue that American dream, while we continue to strive for success. Remember that every
success story has a background. Weve forgotten that these immigrants are our background.

Work Cited

Davidson, Adam. Coming to America. New York Times Magazine 17 Feb. 2013:
17-18. Print.
Gold, Steven J. Immigration Benefits America.
Society Journal Vol 46.
Issue 5 (2009): 408-411.
Keep the Borders Open.
Economist print edition 3 Jan. 2008:
1-2. Print.
Ku, Leighton, and Brian Bruen. "Poor Immigrants Use Public Benefits at Lower Rates than
Native-Born Citizens."
Economic Development Bulletin 17 (2013). Print.
McGuire, Kevin. Immigration and the Effects on Social Services. Policy and Practice.
Dec. (2010): 18-19.
Print.